Cock & Bull - Laura Barnard Page 0,72

make my tea. It is still far too early for all of this.

He follows me. ‘We’re going out. Today.’

‘Where?’ I yawn. I don’t know if I can be bothered. I fancy bringing this tea back to bed.

‘Somewhere to take our minds off this. It’ll be my surprise. Go get dressed into something comfy.’

‘Comfy?’ I narrow my eyes at him. ‘Why? Where are you taking me?’

He grabs my shoulders, his eyes resolute. ‘Phoebe, stop trying to control the situation. Just have some breakfast, go upstairs, get dressed and let me take you somewhere.’

He tucks a strand of my crazy morning hair behind my ear. It makes me shiver. He notices and does that delicious naughty smirk. Bastard knows he has me hanging on by a string.

Half an hour later I’m ready, dressed in jeans, a loose tank top and an oversized snuggly jumper. He’s wearing his usual jeans, tight black t-shirt and leather jacket. The guy thinks he’s Danny Zuko from Grease. The worst thing is that he almost is.

‘Listen…’ I start, ready to give him an out. He might have thought about it and changed his mind.

He puts his palms up. ‘I know what you’re gonna say. You’re worried about leaving Ella alone today. I’ve already asked my mate Roairy to work. He can help out.’

‘But I don’t have the money to pay him.’

He shakes his head. ‘He owes me a favour. He’s doing it for free.’ He warns me with his eyes to stop listing excuses.

‘O…kay.’ I search around for another reason, but he seems eager to take me out. Maybe he’s right, I should just go with it.

‘Just relax.’ He grins and it lights up my heart. ‘Today is a day of fun.’

He takes my hand and leads me out. I can’t help but feel that it’s a very ‘date’ like thing to do. I could almost close my eyes and pretend I’m his girlfriend. God, see what I mean? I turn into a teenager girl with a humongous crush around him. Rational thoughts disappear.

‘Ah, there you are,’ a female voice says just as I’m getting into Clooney’s car.

‘Did you hear that?’ I ask Clooney and look around us.

‘Huh?’ He looks around, puzzled.

Okay so it’s clear he didn’t.

‘I was trying to knock on the door earlier but you mustn’t have heard me.’ She sounds young and cheery.

Oh god. Not now. Not a dead person when I’m trying to have a nice day.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll come with you.’ Her voice is suddenly behind me in the car. ‘Where are we going?’

I grit my teeth. Today is going to be long if this girl is following us.

Chapter Thirty-Six

‘So where are we of to?’ I ask Clooney. Hopefully if I ignore her she’ll think I can’t hear her and go away.

‘And who is this hunk? Oh, it’s Clooney. Of course it is.’

He licks his lips, his delicious grin exciting me in inappropriate places. ‘Just wait and see would you. God, you’re shit with surprises.’

I laugh. ‘Yeah, my worst nightmare would be a surprise party.’

‘So I see you’re ignoring me, but I know you’re the one. Breda’s great niece. The one that can help me. They told me at the funeral home.’

Jesus, she’s really not going to leave me alone.

I try to talk over a cough. ‘What,’ cough, ‘do you’ cough, ‘want?’

Clooney looks at me, eyebrows raised. Obviously realising I’m a grade A weirdo.

‘Did you say something?’

‘Nope.’ I shake my head.

‘Well, I’m wanting to tell my mammy not to chuck out a dress of mine. I promised it to my niece. She said she’d like to make a pillow out of the fabric. You know, to remind her of me.’ I nod discreetly. ‘Only the crazy old bint has put it in the charity shop bag. If we don’t get there today it could end up god knows where.’

I get my phone out and pretend someone has called me.

‘Oh hi. Yeah I’m so sorry but I’m not going to be able to do that today. But I can get right on it as soon as I get home?’

‘Oh really? I hate to have to wait. What if she decides to go early? It could be gone forever.’

‘Sorry, but you won’t get anywhere with me until then,’ I insist, standing my ground.

I hear her sigh. ‘Fine. I suppose I’ll have to wait.’

‘Thank you.’ I pretend to hang up the phone.

‘Who was that?’ Clooney asks as we take a turn down a country lane I’ve never noticed before.

‘Oh just… the brewery,’ I lie. ‘Anyway,